5 September 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN and registered in the Yokosuka Naval District as a converted merchant transport (oil supply).

15 November 1941:
AKEBONO MARU is assigned to the 1st Air Fleet.

18 November 1941: Operation "Z" - The Attack on Pearl Harbor:
Kure. Although assigned to the No. 2 Supply Group for Operation "Z", AKEBONO MARU's flanges do match up with the refueling hoses. She is the last oiler to be so fitted and work is not completed in time before the Carrier Striking Force (Kido Butai) sails from Japan. AKEBONO MARU does not participate in the operation. [1]

30 November 1941:
Osaka. Enters Naniwa Dockyard for conversion to a naval auxiliary and to allow at sea replenishment.

27 December 1941:
Captain Shibata Tsutomu (39) is appointed Supervisor.

7 January 1942:
The conversion is completed at the Kure Naval Yard.

11 January 1942:
Departs Kure for southern operations.

19 January 1942:
AKEBONO MARU departs Davao, Philippines for Tarakan, Borneo with an unidentified destroyer escort. E of Jolo, AKEBONO MARU is damaged by nine B-17 heavy bombers of the 7th and 19th BGs from Malang, Java. They drop 100 lb bombs and straddle the ship, possibly getting several hits. As the planes depart, the tanker is seen burning and steering a circular course, as if her steering gear is damaged. Captain Shibata and about 10 crewmen are killed. Shibata is promoted Rear Admiral, posthumously. [3]

20 January 1942:
At Tarakan. At 1330, patrol boat PB-37 comes alongside and is supplied with fuel.

22 January 1942:
AKEBONO MARU is recorded as arriving at Tarakan. This may be an error, being instead an anticipated ETA, or the ship may have continued, with damage, to Tarakan.

3 June 1942:
At about 1700, the convoy is attacked by LtCol (later General) Walter C. Sweeney's nine Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresss" heavy bombers. ARGENTINA MARU and KIYOSUMI MARU are near missed during the attack, but AKEBONO MARU is undamaged.

4 June 1942:
About 2354 (JST), the convoy is attacked by four torpedo-carrying Consolidated PBY-5A "Catalina" amphibious patrol planes of Patrol Squadron 24 from Midway. Lt William L. Richards, the flight leader of the mission, scores a hit on AKEBONO MARU's bow with an obsolete Mark-XIII Mod 1 torpedo at 26-34N, 174-14W. The torpedo hit detonates AKEBONO MARU's AA shell magazine and tears a 10-meter long gash in her side. Ten crewmen are KIA and 13 wounded. [2]

20 June 1942:
Passes through Bungo Suido escorted by destroyers KUROSHIO and OYASHIO.

17 October 1942:
At Shortland from 0501 to 0745 refuels seaplane carrier CHIYODA.

18 October 1942:
Departs Shortland escorted by destroyer YUZUKI.

23 October 1942:
Arrives at Truk.

29 October 1942:
Arrives at Kure.

1 November 1942:
Departs Kure.

1 November 1942:
Departs Kure. Joined by subchaser CH-36 off Fukajima.

E 2 November 1942:
CH-36 is detached at 32N.

26 November 1942:
Arrives at Hiro.

9 December 1942:
Departs Hiro.

14 December 1942:
At Rabaul.

24 December 1942:
Arrives at Rabaul.

26-27 December 1942:
Takes on heavy fuel from Navy oiler TSURUMI.

12 January 1943:
10 miles SW of Tingwon island, near New Hanover, Bismarcks. At about midnight AKEBONO MARU is being escorted by patrol boat PB-1 when they are attacked by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral-Ret) Thomas B. Klakring's (USNA ’27) USS GUARDFISH (SS-217). Using his new SJ radar, Klakring torpedoes and sinks PB-1 at 02-51 S, 149-43E.

13 January 1943:
150 miles N of Manus Island, Admiralties. At 0900, while on a supply mission for the Guadalcanal area naval forces, AKEBONO MARU is attacked by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Charles C. Kirkpatrick's (USNA ’31) USS TRITON (SS-201) at 00-45S, 148-44E. Kirkpatrick makes a surface attack and fires eight Mark-14 steam torpedoes. He claims two hits, but sees no explosion. It is probable that the torpedoes were duds.

26 May 1943:
At 0800, departs Balikpapan enroute to Rabaul. Escorted by subchaser CH-5 as far as 2 degrees N.

9 June 1943:
450 miles SSW of Truk. At 0200, alerted by an "Ultra" signal, LtCdr James D. Grant's (USNA ’31) USS GREENLING (SS-218) attacks AKEBONO MARU at 02-17N, 145-39E. Grant claims hits with three of four torpedoes he fires. He also claims that she was set afire and sank. In fact, she suffered heavy damage, but does not sink and makes Truk.

9 September 1943:
Captain Otsuka is relieved and a new, but unknown, Captain is appointed supervisor of AKEBONO MARU.

2 January 1944:
At 0700, PB-102 is detached from the convoy. The convoy now steams unescorted. Later, FUJISAN, AKEBONO and SHINKOKU MARUs join a westbound convoy.

3 January 1944:
Philippine Sea. At 0328, attacked by LtCdr (later Cdr) James W. Davis' (USNA ’30) USS RATON (SS-270) in a surface radar attack at 08-22N, 129-52E. Davis claims hits with three of six torpedoes fired. AKEBONO MARU sustains medium damage and takes on a list to starboard. She is assisted by destroyer HAYANAMI that together with UZUKI join the convoy at 1130. HAYANAMI escorts AKEBONO MARU to Palau separately while UZUKI and the other two oilers steam ahead to Palau

4 January 1944:
Arrives at Palau. Undergoes temporary repairs.

5 January 1944:
Departs Palau with SHINKOKU and FUJISAN MARUs escorted by destroyer UZUKI. Later, destroyer TACHIKAZE also departs Palau and at 0700 joins the convoy.

Near Urukthapel Island. AKEBONO MARU, although damaged, prepares to depart for Takao as part of refugee convoy PATA-07. At 0500, she departs to evade an air raid which has been announced. No raid happens and AKEBONO MARU is recalled.

At 0550, AKEBONO MARU is attacked by about 30 planes in the western channel. At about 0600, after multiple bomb hits, she sinks in shallow water with her bow above water. Five crewmen are killed.